Chicken Fat

Tuesday, March 31, 2009

Al Dark - forever young

Recently I saw somebody that looked similar to an old school chum Al Dart.

Al had his own drummer. He was one of the few at Marietta High School that dressed in a black leather jacket, boots, and, of course, his hair was duck tailed style.

I think Al wore taps on his boots and he took big giant steps. You could hear him coming.

Al had his own sense of humor packaged and had good delivery. For a while his delivery was no punch line at all. He would say something like, “I got a new one. This man walks into a bar and…” (at this point, he would smile like he is ready to hit you with the punch line) “pulls a frog out of his shirt pocket!” then he would laugh and maybe say, “Get it!?” and walk away laughing shaking his head.

Another verbal delivery Al would like to pull was say something with a word dangling with for no reason, like he might say, “Rock! What are you (long pause) doing?”

Or

“Did you see the movie at the Strand about….” And walk off.

The next day he would come up to you and say “China?” (or whatever the movie was about playing at the Strand then).

He was good as Andy Kaufman was delivering jokes, in a warped way. I think Al would plan them out – and plan a sequence to follow.

I think Al lived on Cascade Drive or one of the streets parallel to Cascade. Sometimes on Sunday morning I would drop by there to visit – a lot of times friend spent the night with him in his parents basement where he had a miniature pool table set up. He was pretty good playing pool on it.

After I got out of the Navy I worked three years for Sinclair Refining Company. I haven’t Al in about 5 or 6 years.

Then one day I was walking down the loading platform of the warehouse and up walked Al Dart in a suit. He worked at the Sinclair Building on the other side of Atlanta. We recalled some of the great times we had we parted with smiles, thinking of old times.

He dropped dead shortly after that. I forgot why he died. But I do know he took his own blueprint with him when he went.

Genealogy Ridley - part 9

Near the end of this post is my grandmother, Frances Viola Ridley. Listed below Viola are her children - one of them is my mother.

Generation No. 6

86. TEMPERANCE6 RIDLEY (WILLIAM5, HENRY SR.4, WILLIAM3, MATTHEW2, WILLIAM1) was born 1875, and died 1921. She married HENRY DAVID BEAVERS 03 Dec 1896 in , Murray, Ga26. He was born Abt. 1875, and died Unknown.

89. CORA6 RIDLEY (WILLIAM5, HENRY SR.4, WILLIAM3, MATTHEW2, WILLIAM1) was born 13 Nov 1882, and died 03 Mar 1965. She married JOHN PEDEN 28 Aug 1898 in , Murray, Ga31. He was born Bef. 1882, and died Unknown.

90. MAUDE6 RIDLEY (WILLIAM5, HENRY SR.4, WILLIAM3, MATTHEW2, WILLIAM1) was born 03 Mar 1885, and died Unknown. She married HAMMONDS CAYLOR 21 Dec 1901 in , Murray, Ga32. He was born 1882, and died 06 Apr 1966.

92. LAVADA6 RIDLEY (WILLIAM5, HENRY SR.4, WILLIAM3, MATTHEW2, WILLIAM1) was born 15 Jan 1890, and died 03 Mar 1918 in , Polk, Tn. She married CHESTER LEE MANTOOTH33, son of WILLIAM MANTOOTH and NANCY SKELTON. He was born 09 Nov 1885 in , Polk, Tn, and died 23 Feb 1958.

More About GEORGIANNE PETTY:Burial: West Hill Cem., Dalton, GaResidence: most of all of their married life: Chattanooga, Tn

Notes for CECIL GRANT:

Cecil played the banjo and another string instrument-. He also was a movie collector. He had a little building in the back yard that he had a movie projector and a huge collection of western movies. Hoppalong Cassidy, Tom Mix, Lash LaRue, The Durango Kid, and more.

In the fall in Atlanta had the Southeastern Fair at the Lakewood Fairgrounds. Every year at that time, the Grants would come down from Chattanooga and stay a couple of days. Georgia would stay in Marietta to visit siblings and Cecil would go to the Southeastern Fair alone.

Georgia and Cecil both were very short people. And drove a small car for the times - a Crosby. Cecil was bald headed. Once (during Southeastern Fair season), when they were visiting, I was about four years old, I asked Cecil could I spin my top on his head.

On 4 November 1958, Cecil was on top of his wooden building in the back of the house making repairs to the roof. He had a metal hammer. The nail he hit an electrical wire, and in turn, electrocuted Cecil. He died fifteen days before his fifty-seventh birthday.

More About CECIL GRANT:Burial: West Hill Cem., Dalton, GaCause of Death: Electricuted when hitting a live wire with a metal hammer on his movie out bldg.Occupation: Thread Mill

Jay Hunter's (1946-2009) Funeral

A stack of the above printouts was by the sign-in book for people to take. The title on the front was “Jay Hunter, The Life and Times of a Rascal”. I like that.

Before the funeral in the family room with Jay’s body were many people. And they were mostly related. Jay grew up as the oldest of twelve children. One of his brothers, Rick, I believe, told my sister that from their parents, the children, grandchildren, and great grandchildren were 67 off-spring. And of a big portion of them have spouses, and of course us cousins and our spouses added up to a room full of people.

I’m sure Jay’s wife Beverly was going through a tough time. I don’t know if surrounded by that many people was good or bad for helping her get though it. All of Jay’s siblings are very positive and supportive naturally, so I’m sure she got through fine.

As we filed into the chapel we walked by the Jay’s body. I noticed the notes the children of Jay’s siblings put in with him the night before were gone. I forgot to look to see if his hat was still there.

Resting on his chest was a book by Louis L’Amour.

The service was beautiful. It had a Native American slant to it. A Native American went up front and played a big long wooden flute. Jay’s sister Patty sung Amazing Grace in the Cherokee language then led us in Amazing Grace in English. His sister Jeanne gave a reading and his brother Chuck told about his relationship through the years with Jay.

Years ago I gave Jay our Hunter pedigree. Our great-great-great grandmother was a Cherokee Native American. Her name was Polly Hogshead. She married Jacob B. Trammell. She drowned in the Little Tennessee River in Macon County, North Carolina, between 1850 and 1860, while tending her fish traps.

I think their marriage worked out for both of them, other than love. Jacob got to acquire more land in the 1820s in North Carolina because he was married to a Cherokee, and later, in the 1830s, if Polly wasn’t married to a white man she would have sent on the infamous “Trail of Tears” to Oklahoma.

Jay told me he took our pedigree printouts that I gave him and visited the Cherokee Indians Reservation in Cherokee, North Carolina. There they collaborated Polly Hogshead Trammell and thus validated that Jay was part Cherokee, which gave him fishing and hunting rights on Cherokee lands.

By the Native American music I think he may have taken it more seriously than just a fishing and hunting privilege.

And, two of Jay’s songs were played. Yes, Jay sung at his own funeral.

Services will be held at 2:00 p.m. on Saturday, March 28, 2009 at Mayes Ward-Dobbins Funeral Home in Marietta, Georgia.

Jay was born in Haverhill, Massachusetts on June 29, 1946. After his father's retirement from the Navy in 1951, his mother and father moved the family back to his father's hometown of Marietta. Jay attended St. Joseph Parochial School, graduated from Marietta High School in 1964, studied at Middle Georgia College, graduated from Georgia State University and earned his Masters Degree from Georgia State University in History and Political Science. During his college years, he traveled across North Georgia with his professor and fellow students, gathering songs and stories that had been handed down for generations. This collection is archived in the Library of Congress.

Jay worked as a Special Education teacher in the Atlanta school system for several years before pursuing a professional career in music. Singer, song writer, and performer. Jay's love of music began as a child and in high school he hosted a "Top 40" radio show on WFOM. Jay was blessed with a rich baritone voice and accompanied himself with acoustic guitar. His wonderful wit and wry sense of humor were evident in the clever lyrics of his songs. During his career, he played at Underground Atlanta, Rockport Music Festival, Newport Music Festival, The King and Prince on St. Simons Island, Cloisters Resort in Sea Island and Piedmont Art Festival. Most recently, to the delight of family, friends and following, he entertained at various Atlanta music venues.

Jay had many hobbies and interests. He enjoyed renovating cars and motorcycles and loved to fly, earning his private pilot's license in the 1980s. Jay also had a natural talent for painting, sketching and wood-working.

Jay was proud of his ancestry, including his mother's French-Canadian heritage and particularly embraced the culture of his Native American ancestry.

In his later years. Jay found the love of his life, Beverly Hunter (formerly Beverly Lopez), and they married in April 2006 in Helen, Georgia. Jay lived the last years of his life enjoying the company of his beloved wife and relishing his role of step-father and grandfather to Beverly's daughter, Laura Crawford, her husband Mark and their daughter Madison and to her son, Richard Lopez, his wife Jamie and their sons Eathan and Sean.

Jay was preceded in death by his father, Dick Hunter (James Richard Hunter, Sr.) former Mayor of Marietta and younger brother Frank.

Sunday, March 29, 2009

Being a Rat Skat then

As I mentioned before, the Rat Skat Club was sort of a underground fraternity at Marietta High School. Or maybe it was a wannabe fraternity. It was a club for boys to simply have fun and promote the school spirit, in maybe unorthodox ways. None of us wanted to do harm, as a group, anyway.

We had socials like hay rides and Christmas dances. The school authorities thought we were hoodlums. And some parents also thought we were a bunch of hoodlums, street gang, or, well, rats.

At the Pre-Varner Reunion was a guy there with the name Chipper Newport that I didn’t remember. Tonight I looked him up in the Olympia school yearbook and believe it or not, he has changed in the last 49 years.

He called me tonight and we knew the same people, such as the late Larry Holcomb and Paul Roper.

He told me when he was a sophomore in 1960 he was asked to join the Rat Skats. His father found out about it. His father met him at the door when he came home and confiscated his car keys, then told him to pack his bags. He shipped him off in mid Tennessee to live with his grandfather.

I suppose his father heard we were a mean gang and he did what he thought he had to do. I think somebody gave some his father some wrong information. I’m sure I would do about the same if I heard something bad about an organization one of my sons was about to join.

Sunday Sermon : Mistakes & Double Standards

Everybody makes mistakes. To err is divine, or so the general consensus believe until somebody they don’t like “errs”…. Then it is non-forgivable.

At the postal service when I was a scheme examiner part of my duty was to randomly check clerk’s sorting mail accuracy. They legally were allowed a 5% error ratio. If I found they missed more than that then I would have to work on that with them.

When I worked in the time keeper’s office I remember one time a lady name Catherine, who was being groomed for a supervisor, on the payroll section she was assigned, had a 4% errors and management gave her a cash superior accomplishment award for only having 4% errors. However, when another person did the same section payroll and had 3% errors they tried to suspend him. He had 1% errors less than a person that received an award for not having least amount of errors. When the union representative brought this to management attention they quietly drop the charge against him – but didn’t give him an award.

It matters who makes the mistake whether it is acceptable or unforgiving or not.

When George W. Bush was in the Whitehouse he made many mistakes and the Republicans explained away, covered up, or forgave his blunders while the Democrats jumped up and down screaming bloody murder. Now, the shoe is on the other foot and Obama is making mistakes it is the Republicans are jumping and up and down and screaming bloody murder and the Democrats are on the defensive.

As CBS Sunday Morning Show last week pointed out not all mistakes are bad. The America Continent was discovered on a navigational mistake…. Other great places or things were either discovered or invented on miscalculations.

With that in mind let us think about all the grammar and spelling mistakes have I made on this blog. An’t I divine?

SUNDAY FUNNIES!!

This is MAD #4. I read some place that Editor Harvey Kurtzman and Publisher Bill Gaines did not know how MAD did until MAD #4. It took that long for the sales reports to come back, or unsold comics returned, or however. At MAD #4 time they knew they had a hit on their hands.

Did they know before or after MAD #4 hit the press? It seems that MAD #4 seems a little bolder than previously, with stories attacking SUPERMAN and The SHADOW.

MAD #4 was the first MAD I was introduced to. I was in the 7th grade and I was with my family visiting my grandmother and I went next door to visit a school chum, Archie Richardson. In Archie’s bedroom he showed me a comicbook called MAD. I fell for the comicbook in a big way, and well, haven’t been the same since.

I quickly swooped up that issue and the three earlier issues and studying MAD and here I am many issues of MAD, HUMBUG, TRUMP, HELP, and ANNIE FANNY later.

The cover was by the editor Harvey Kurtzman. As usual, his cover illustration is a plug for one of the stories inside, in this case it was the last story: The SHADOW.

This is the letter page. Interesting one of the letters was by Larry Stark. Larry lived and breathed EC comics. I read someplace that he gave EC critiques so often they finally gave him a lifetime subscription….. unfortunately, EC’s lifetime wasn’t all that long after that.

SUPERDUPERMAN was illustrated by Wallace Wood. His detail work is always good and interesting…. Little bits of people here and there. This story was the first to put me into a MAD spin.

FLOB WAS A SLOB was illustrated by Jack Davis and was a poke at romance comics. It gave it an extra twist of lemon.

ROBIN HOOD was illustrated by John Severin. They took an old story and revived it.

THE SHADOW was illustrated by Will Elder. What can I can say? The art and little details are hilarious.

Saturday, March 28, 2009

Rat Skats!

Were you part of the underground Marietta High School fraternity Rat Skats?

The Statue of Limitations has passed, you can step forward now.

At the Varner’s Reunion on Saturday, April the 25th is a time to show off your Rat Skat tee-shirt you just bought. Here is more how to get the Rat logo on your favorite shirt (anybody else too):

1. You must provide own shirt.2. It takes about 3 days.3. They charge $12.00 for logo. That includes adding your name and dates.4. Location: Right down town Cartersville, GA directly across the tracks from the Old Depot. No. 12 South Wall Street.5. The lady that owns the place is named Michelle. Phone No. 770-712-11716. Mark McGee is also getting a Rat Banner and everyone should wear their shirts.

For more information about the Varner’s Reunion and to buy your tickets click on:

Kurtzman's FUMETTI

I am not sure what Fumetti means. I think it roughly means COMICS in Italian.

In HELP!Magazine Harvey Kurtzman called his photograph stories Fumettis. His Fumettis had the format of comics... the people spoke with balloons coming from their mouth, and it was panel after panel, in sequence.

I think every issue of HELP! had a Fumetti story. I can't think of one that didn't.

Here is a fine example of Harvey Kurtzman's Fumetti. The star of this one is comedian Henny Youngman (1906-1998).

Of course you know to click on each page to make them bigger.... right?

Brandi's World Famous Hotdogs - more

Yesterday I met my cousin Johnny for lunch at Brandi’s World Famous Hotdogs. Now Johnny lives out of town, so Brandi’s is a special treat when he comes back to his home town.

When we met at the front door and went inside the eight or so tables were full. All the stools at the counter were occupied. Maybe as many as eight to ten people were standing waiting to grab the next available table.

There is no lobby or waiting area. You have to stand in between the tables. Man, those hotdogs looks delicious as the waitress delivered trays full of the dogs to the various tables…. And just as they walked by you got a whiff of the meat and chili and a steamy bun…. Umm ummm!

Finally we grabbed a table. We each ordered a hamburger and a chili dog. I got coleslaw on my dog. The chili is spicy and has tiny little onions bits blended in to complements the spices… my sinuses always loose up and I have to dab my nose with a handkerchief … or otherwise, I would look pretty disgusting.

I noticed Brandi had two new ladies working for her. One seemed to be manning the cash register and the takeout orders and the other was the waitress for the tables…. Neither one of them look like they belonged there.

The customers were the same genre as always, the working class – I notice many were wearing service shirts with company logos and there names sewed in above the breast pocket and probably a good percent of them are natives.

Brandi wasn’t there.

Johnny and I both had our Brandi stories and our Ravan stories. Before it was a world famous hotdog dashery it was a barbecue joint owned by Judge Ravan.

We both got into trouble at high school by getting caught for skipping class, leaving campus, and going to Ravan's BBQ for lunch.

Johnny had one up one me on the stories. His grandmother Frasure lived around the corner on Campbell Hill and he used to take his grandmother and Mrs. Ravan trout fishing up in Gilmer County.

When we got ready to leave we were waiting our turn at the cash register to pay up and get out and Johnny mentioned it hasn’t changed since the last time he ate there two or three years ago.

Then I happened to remember the last time I was there picking up some chili dogs to go I heard a hammering and whamming noise in the back left corner near the rest rooms. They called Brandi up to take my money. She had a hammer in her hand – she was doing some type of remodeling herself.

I looked in the same corner yesterday and saw that a shelf had been added with a television blaring. I told Johnny, “Except that!” and pointed to the TV. He agreed.

Then I wondered why a small television in that corner. The only people that could hear it was the last one or two people sitting on stools at the end of the counter and even that, they would be facing the other way.

I wonder if Brandi watches her soap-story after the lunch crowd clears out?

Oh well, I’m sure there is a reasonable reason.

I asked the new lady where Brandi was. She said she took her baby to the doctor. Johnny asked did she had another baby. The lady said not recently, that one was two years old.

Outside in the small parking lot we saw Rupert. Everybody knows Rupert and Rupert knows everybody. We spoke to him and his friend spoke to us also and introduced himself. He was an charming man. His last name was Hood.

When they walked away Johnny told me the Hood guy was head of the Marietta High School Basketball team.

Thursday, March 26, 2009

Ridley Genealogy 8 continued

Look at about the 5th name down, a man by the name of Walter Likely. Walter was shot by the sheriff for stealing a chicken. He died at a young age (22), so I think he probably was killed when he was shot, although that wasn't pointed out. Look at the year that took place. 1933. That was during the depression when times were bad. There are probably many sad stories of people trying to feed their families during that period of history.

81. DILLIA MYRTLE5 RIDLEY (CHARLES MARTIN4, ASA ELISHA3, WILLIAM2, WILLIAM1) was born 23 Feb 1894 in Bridgeport, Jackson, Al, and died 28 Jun 1986 in Clovis, Curry, NM. She married (1) JUBE CRAWFORD. He was born Abt. 1894, and died Unknown. She married (2) HARVEY LEE LIKELY 09 Oct 1909 in Plainview, , Tx, son of THOMAS LIKLEY and FANNIE THIGPEN. He was born 11 Aug 1881 in Waco, Roosevelt, Tx, and died 26 Dec 1962 in Portales, , NM.

Notes for JUBE CRAWFORD:Childhood sweetheart of Dillia.-Charlotte Ridley Traylor in her RIDLEY book.

82. MARGIE NOVELLA5 RIDLEY (JAMES ALLEN4, ASA ELISHA3, WILLIAM2, WILLIAM1) was born Mar 1885 in , Jackson, Al, and died 06 Apr 1960 in Stevenson, Jackson, Al. She married GEORGE WASHINGTON (2) CRAWFORD. He was born 13 Apr 1879, and died 1939 in Bridgeport, Jackson, Al.

83. CARRIE A.5 RIDLEY (NAPOLEAN BONAPARTE "N.P."4, JAMES N.3, CHARLES2, WILLIAM1)21 was born Abt. 1860 in , , NC, and died Unknown. She married JAMES M. WILLIAMS21 22 Dec 1878 in , Macon, NC22. He was born Abt. 1858, and died Unknown.

85. GEORGE HENRY5 RIDLEY, SR. (JAMES WILEY4, ALFRED BURTON3, CHARLES2, WILLIAM1) was born 1875, and died 1945. He married (1) MATTIE EDMUNDSON. She was born 1870, and died 1964. He married (2) IDA OGLES. She was born Aft. 1910, and died Unknown.

Monday's Animals

Monday morning Willow and I returned from our walk just before daybreak. As soon as we got into the house she growled, moaned, squealed, and bark wanting in the back yard.

When she pitches a fit like that we know she smells something. I let her out, as I have many times before.

And as usual, I stepped over to the window, thinking any second I will see Willow dash across the yard to the trees that like our back yard and a cat or a squirrel will leap up and make it into a tree just in the nick of time. It happens almost every day.

One time Willow did actually pounce on a cat before the cat had a chance to run or leap. The view was partially obstructed but I know Willow hopped back yipping and the cat jumped over the fence. Willow had a scratched nose. I thought that should have been an educational even for Willow for her but it wasn’t. She didn’t learn a thing.

I didn’t see Willow dart across the yard towards where the cats and squirrels usually hang out. I got closer to the window and looked down. Willow was standing over something that had some white on it.

Out to the back yard I went quickly. Willow was standing over a dead rabbit dumbfounded. It had a long body with a white chest. The poor thing had a broken neck. There was no blood. Only a wet ear where Willow was licking it.

Willow has a rope looking toy that sort of reminds me of a rag-doll. She plays with it by running around with the rope-thing in her teeth jerking it wildly. I thought she was just playing. Now I know she was training to break a poor little creature’s neck.

I took the rabbit, wrapped it in several plastic bags and put it in our garbage can. Luckily, garbage day was the next day.

I wanted to get rid of the evidence, so to speak. My 87 year old neighbor Jim gets very upset when a hawk, cat, or dog tries to get one of his wild “pets”. A cat belonging to our neighbor Bob got a hold of a chipmunk one time and Jim chased it over to Bob’s house. Bob had to explain to Jim that cats and dogs do that – kill animals and eat them, that was their instinct. Jim didn’t accept that, he told Bob the next time he caught him he was going to shoot the cat.

I didn’t want my poor Willow to be dodging bullets out in the yard.

After my wife Anna dealt with AAA and the changing of the bad tire she went to pick up her mother to take her to the doctor. In the middle of her mother’s back side yard was a dead raccoon.

There have been some raccoons locally with rabies. For that reason I didn’t care about picking it up. And, it was dead in the middle of a yard. It wasn’t struck by a car or anything else. It just died, so there was a good chance it had rabies.

Anna called Animal Control and they said they would send somebody out and get it that very day. They didn’t. Nor, did they get it Tuesday.

But they did get it Wednesday.

I wonder how many scavenger animals such as dogs and coyotes dropped by to get them a chew before Animal Control picked it up?

Tire Business

I was to meet a bunch of friends Monday at 10am. Anna was to take her mother to the doctor shortly after that.

I was backing out in the truck when I noticed the Honda had a flat on the back right. It was about 9:30. I hurriedly told her about it and then pumped it up with an electric air pump.

I went on to the meeting with the Varner’s gang. Anna called AAA and they immediately came out and changed the bad tire for the spare donut tire. The AAA man told Anna that the tire had a big bolt in the tire. He also told her he loved his job.

Later that day we drove the Honda to a Discount Tire in nearby Kennesaw.

The person that we thought was the manager looked at the tire in the trunk and said if it was repairable they would fix it free, and hopefully, we would think of them when we were ready to buy new tires.

We sat down in the show room/waiting room and, well, waited. There was a lady sitting in a chair that gave us a big warm smile and spoke. We politely spoke back. Her face looked familiar… but I couldn’t quiet place it.

The manager told us she was buying Michelin Tires. I asked her if she like Michelin and she said yes. I think I told her we did too. If I am not mistaken, they came with the car when we bought it.

We watched the hyped-up we-think-is-manager guy do things to make the place look neat and impressible such as space the displace tires a certain distance apart, maybe straighten an advertising poster, and busily talking to customers when they wandered in.

In between customers and straightening things he told us some very positive things about his company and the sole owner, which he repeated his name several times. The owner lives in Arizona. Once or twice he quoted the owner directly, both complementary, to show the owner was a wise and decent man.

The lady I first noticed said something from time to time. She complemented the guy for putting things so neat, she added that she was a librarian and could appreciate that.

A guy from the car bay area came in and told her car was ready, she could go.

Then another guy came to us and told us the bolt went into the tire crookedly, therefore, could not be repaired.

However, he said, he just put a tire a customer traded in – and he pointed that was sitting with us and said, “There she goes now”. He went on to say they were nice tires and that would get us buy until we were ready to buy. So, again, “No charge – just remember us when you get ready to buy.” Which we will. We are thinking very positive towards Discount Tires.

As she drove away, it hit me where I have seen her. She lives around the corner from us.

I told Anna who I thought it was and she thought that lady that lived around the corner is a school teacher. Maybe a media specialist at a school? We left it at that. Not that it mattered anyway.

This morning in the rain before daylight Willow and I were on a walk when the lady in question, that lives around the corner was backing out of her driveway. I waved and motioned for her to roll down her window.

Now days, how do you motion someone to roll down their window – pantomime pushing a button?

Her windows went down and she pulled up beside me. I asked her was she at Discount Tires Monday getting new tires. She said yes. She has always has a very big toothy very gracious smile. She told me she recognized us when we went in. I told her I didn’t want to make a fool of myself asking her there – so I chose to make a fool of myself standing in the rain in the dark asking her.

I told her we were driving on one of her tires and told her that story, and we had a good laugh… with me and Willow getting soaking wet.

She also told me that day she found out her nephew had a seizure and was now in the hospital. I told her that same day I found out my first cousin had died. We told each other we were sorry.

On this Date "My Fair Lady"

On this date in 1976* “My Fair Lady” opened at St. James Theater in New York City and had 384 performances.

I didn’t see the play but did see the movie starring Rex Harrison and Audrey Hepburn. I don’t remember much about it, but pretty much got the idea. It was about a professor of phonetics saying he take any wench out of the slums of London and turn her into a proper speaking lady with just a little training…. And I think there might have been a wager involved to make it more interesting… and probably their relationship developed into a romance, which even made it more interesting.

I only remember one line, which impressed me. Eliza Doolittle’s (Audrey Hepburn) father Alfred wanted some quick cash money for the professor to teach his daughter how to speak properly.

64. ORPHA ELIZABETH5 RIDLEY (GEORGE WASHINGTON4, ASA ELISHA3, WILLIAM2, WILLIAM1)20 was born 27 Aug 1876 in Dorans Cove, Jackson, Al, and died 15 Dec 1956. She married ORVILLE JACKSON LOYD, son of ALEXANDER LOYD and MALINDA JOHNSON. He was born Abt. 1876, and died Unknown.

66. OLLIVE ELLMORA5 RIDLEY (GEORGE WASHINGTON4, ASA ELISHA3, WILLIAM2, WILLIAM1) was born 16 Oct 1881 in , Jackson, Al, and died 07 May 1963. She married WILLIAM PLEASANT MCCAMPBELL 30 Dec 1903, son of WILLIAM MCCAMPBELL and MARTHA JENKINS. He was born 01 May 1880 in , Jackson, Al, and died 06 Jul 1967 in West Palm Beach, , Fl.

68. MAGGIE ELLEN5 RIDLEY (GEORGE WASHINGTON4, ASA ELISHA3, WILLIAM2, WILLIAM1) was born 26 Dec 1886 in Dorans Cove, Jackson, Al, and died 31 Oct 1963 in Bridgeport, Jackson, Al. She married CHARLIE MCCAMPBELL, son of WILLIAM MCCAMPBELL and MARTHA JENKINS. He was born 02 Oct 1884, and died 30 Oct 1950.

69. WILLIAM LEE5 RIDLEY (GEORGE WASHINGTON4, ASA ELISHA3, WILLIAM2, WILLIAM1) was born 22 Aug 1889 in Dorans Cove, Jackson, Al, and died Unknown in Huntsville, , Al. He married ETHEL LEE STEWART 06 Jun 1911. She was born Abt. 1889 in South Pittsburg, , Tn, and died Unknown.

Notes for WILLIAM SPILLER 'WILLIE' RIDLEY:Spiller's trade was farming, saw-milling, and blacksmith. He also enjoy making wood crafts. Spiller suffered with severe respiratory problems and combined with the conditions of our country at the time, due to the economy of our nation and hardships of farming, he was unable to support his large family. The older children had to leave school and seek employment. Spiller and his two youngest children, Vivian and Margaret, went to live with his daughter, Mildred and her husband Kelly Tryan of Trion, where Spiller spent his remaining years. Ellen lived with the other children and helped with their families. He died at Mildred and her husband Kelly's home.-Charlotte Ridley Traylor

72. MATTIE BULAH5 RIDLEY (JOHN BUNYON4, ASA ELISHA3, WILLIAM2, WILLIAM1)20 was born 28 Apr 1880 in , Jackson, Al, and died 27 Nov 1919. She married JAMES CALVIN WALKER 29 Jun 1902, son of JAMES WALKER and SHARILDA COTTEN. He was born 20 Oct 1871 in , DeKalb, Al, and died 11 Jun 1919.

73. GEORGE HENRY 'HOPE'5 RIDLEY (JOHN BUNYON4, ASA ELISHA3, WILLIAM2, WILLIAM1) was born 28 Feb 1886 in , Jackson, Al, and died 09 Apr 1967 in Odenville, , Al. He married (1) EMILIE MAXWELL. She was born 1891, and died Unknown. He married (2) TENNESSEE SAMPSON, daughter of JAMES SAMPSON and MARY WOODS. She was born Bet. 08 Aug 1888 - 1890 in , Jackson, Al, and died 28 Feb 1928 in Fabius, Jackson, Al. He married (3) BLACKFOOT INDIAN. She was born Abt. 1886, and died Unknown. He married (4) CORA MAE COSBY. She was born Abt. 1905, and died 06 May 1966.

Notes for GEORGE HENRY 'HOPE' RIDLEY:family tradition is that after Tennessee died Hope gave all five children up for adoption.-Charlotte Ridley Traylor

More About GEORGE HENRY 'HOPE' RIDLEY:Occupation: Springville, , Al

Notes for EMILIE MAXWELL:Emile apparently died in childbirth and family tradition is that she and her child are buried in the same grave on the Elisha Ridley homeplace in Stevenson, Alabama.-Charlotte Ridley Traylor in her RIDLEY book.

74. ANNIE S.5 RIDLEY (JOHN BUNYON4, ASA ELISHA3, WILLIAM2, WILLIAM1) was born 19 Sep 1895 in , Jackson, Al, and died Unknown. She married JAMES ADAM KIRKPATRICK 10 Sep 1916 in Gross Springs, Jackson Co, Al. He was born 1893, and died Unknown.

75. ASENATH 'SENA'5 RIDLEY (JOHN BUNYON4, ASA ELISHA3, WILLIAM2, WILLIAM1) was born 21 Sep 1897 in , Jackson, Al, and died 1998 in Chattanooga, , Tn. She married JOHN ROSCOE HARRIS Abt. 1912, son of ANDY HARRIS and MARTHA E.. He was born Abt. 1891 in Trenton, , Ga, and died Unknown.

79. DELILA BETSY ANN 'LILA'5 RIDLEY (CHARLES MARTIN4, ASA ELISHA3, WILLIAM2, WILLIAM1) was born 29 Jan 1884 in Bridgeport, Jackson, Al, and died 16 Nov 1916 in Bellview, , NM. She married ROBERT SAMUEL BAILEY Apr 1904 in Indian Territory, Ok, son of JEFFERSON BAILEY and SALLY LIKLEY. He was born 19 Dec 1883 in , Cherokee, Ok, and died Aug 1945.

Disney Vacation about 25 Years Ago

The first picture is something I found on the Google of a mother and daughter and their spouses/and/or dates having a little fun in Disney World. They were kicked out for life. You just can't help but loving a rebel.

The rest are pictures of our trip to Disney World about 25 or so years ago. The oldest is Rocky and the youngest is Adam.

Jay Hunter (c1947 - 2009)

Above baby Jay with parents. Dick and Jeannette Quintal Hunter.

While at the pre-Varner Reunion get together yesterday I received a phone call. My first cousin Jay Hunter had died the day before, Sunday, March, 22, 2009. Jay’s real name was James Richard Hunter, Jr. I think Jay was probably short for Junior.

Jay was the oldest of twelve children. He was a building contractor and a semi-professional singer. He sung a Gordon Lightfoot – folksy style.

Once Anna and I were strolling in Underground Atlanta and came upon a lounge with folk music coming from inside. The poster on a tripod outside said something to the effect of featuring Jay Hunter. We went in and got a table and had a drink.. He recognized me and came over and told us about his latest adventures.

Years following that night we stumbled on him singing at Kennesaw College and a rib house.

I always enjoyed talking to Jay hearing what was new in his life. He has had few dull moments and I think he had a yearn to roam. Once one of his sisters told me the only time she knew where he was when she was looking at him.

To me Jay had a rare positive upbeat way about him, much like his father. We will miss him.

Unfortunately, his mother Jeannette had to endure two sons’ deaths. The next oldest son, Frank died in 2003

Below 2004:

Standing - Jay, on the right, talking to his brother Don, also standing